TITLE: Fatal Reunion

Disclaimer: I still own nothing

AN: Still new at this :) Please read and review.

Thanks to Mel for beta reading. Thank you so much. hugz

Also thanks to Becca, Kristy, Megz, Mel, Myra, Lost November, Napafun and Silvin for your support and encouragement. :)

Thanks for all the great reviews :)

Chapter 10

Grissom rushed through the corridors of the hospital, desperately looking for the exit. As he tried to find his way, it brought back the memories of him rushing through the corridors when they first arrived. Finally locating the exit, he made his way through the main doors.

The hot and humid air began suffocating him as he left the cool air conditioned environment of the hospital, he soon started to feel like he could no longer breathe.

Falling to his knees on the grass verge outside the hospital, he could no longer contain the emotions that were pouring from his heart. The tears wouldn't stop falling, as they spilled down his cheeks; gasping for air through his sobs, he felt his whole world had fallen apart.

Struggling to control all the different emotions he had been feeling since this all began. The last few days he'd experienced feelings he never thought he would ever feel, and they were becoming harder and harder for him to deal with.

He was so relieved that Sara had pulled through the surgery with no further complications. It was as though he had been given a second chance; another chance to tell her exactly how he felt and to make a life with her, having finally realized how much he truly loved her. 'How can I do that now, she hates me.' Shuddering as he remembered the way she pulled away from him, 'She doesn't even want to be in the same room as me, let alone let me touch her.' He sobbed out loud, "All I want to do is hold her, comfort her, and protect her, and I can't even do that."

He must have sat there for a few hours; soon he began to realize that the sun was setting on another long and very emotional day.

Getting up and brushing the grass from his pants, he made his way back into the hospital, in search of the bathroom.

Standing there looking at his reflection in the mirror, seeing the raw emotion on his face that was no longer hidden behind the wall, the wall he used to mask his feelings.

He stood there feeling broken, as though a huge part of him had been ripped away, leaving him lost and vulnerable. Switching on the cold tap, cupping some of the cold water in his hands, he splashed his face attempting to soothe the soreness of his eyes.

Making his way out of the bathroom, he noticed something in the gift shop window. Sitting there was a big white fluffy teddy bear, clutching a big red heart. He couldn't explain it, but he seemed to be drawn to the bear.

Entering the gift shop, he headed straight for the display of bears, reaching out and taking one from the shelf. It felt so soft, and looked so cute; he instantly knew that Sara would love it.

As he made his way to the register, something else caught his eye, moving closer he could see butterflies, blue and pink butterflies on pale yellow stationery. Instantly reaching for a pack, making sure it contained everything he would need; he made his way to the register to pay for his purchases.

Making his way out of the gift shop, he walked slowly towards the cafeteria. After purchasing a strong coffee and some bottled water, he took a seat at a quiet table, out of the way and began to write the most expressive and meaningful letter he had ever written.

Brass was pacing up and down in the interrogation room, 'This is so hard, I can't think of Sara as a victim, I just can't'. "Let's get back to my first question, Mrs. Sidle. Where were you the night your daughter was attacked, and left for dead?"

"I have no daughter, and I told you, I was home alone." Ignoring the hateful glare she was getting from the blonde criminalist that was sitting opposite her.

Forcefully sliding over a print out, Catherine angrily replied, "So your DNA just happened to be at the scene where Sara was found?"

Glancing at the print out, then looking back at Catherine, "I don't know, maybe that bitch planted it there." Laura replied accusingly.

Brass caught up in his emotions, lost control, he walked over to her, and slammed his hands down on the table in front of her, his face inches from hers. "Bitch!" he shouted. "Her name is Sara; she is your daughter for Christ sake. If anyone here's a bitch I think it's..." Catherine glanced over at Brass with concern in her eyes

Pulling himself together, he continued. "Why would Sara do that? You lured her there, and you shot her and left her there to die." His voice broke, as he was trying to control his emotions, counting to ten, he continued. "I just don't understand how a mother could do that to their own daughter." Staring at her in disgust, still getting no response, he slammed his hands on the table once more.

Laura flinched, but calmly replied. "You don't scare me detective Brass. I come from an abusive family. Why would I be scared of you?" Briefly looking at her lawyer, she continued. "I lured her there? Is that what she told you? It was her who lured me there, she tried to kill me."

Brass looked at Catherine shocked. 'Surely she must realize we have the surveillance footage?' He could not believe what this woman was doing. 'Does she really think she can get away with it?'

Before he was given a chance to speak, Laura continued. "Yeah that's right, maybe you should ask your precious little Sara about how she tried to kill me, her own mother. I was just defending myself. It was self-defense." Sitting back smugly in her chair, her arms folded in front of her.

"What about the hospital Mrs. Sidle? How can you explain why you tried to give Sara the wrong type of blood? Or did Sara lure you there too?" Brass smugly replied, knowing there was no way she could talk herself out of that one.

Laura sat there in silence, wondering how she could answer that.

Reaching into the case file, Brass pulled out the surveillance photos from the warehouse. It still pained him deeply to see Sara lying there. He threw them down on the table in front of Laura.

"We have surveillance from the warehouse Mrs. Sidle, audio and visual. We know exactly what happened that night. All the evidence we have against you will stand up in court." Brass replied enthusiastically.

Laura looked at the photos in shock.

Catherine stood walked over to Laura and began to pick up the photos. "Make yourself at home, I'll think you will be here a while." Then she turned, passing the case file back to Brass, before they left the interview room.

Once outside, Catherine turned to Brass, "Hey, you okay? I was worried about you in there."

"I'm fine, really. It's just, Sara's like a daughter to me Catherine. When she called Sara that, I just lost it, I'm sorry." The emotions were clear on his face, his eyes moistened with unshed tears.

"Hey, don't apologize; you only just beat me to it." Reaching out her arm and placing it on his shoulder, "I can't believe she tried to blame Sara, just so unbelievable." Catherine laughed at Laura's stupidity. "Does she really think we're that stupid?"

Brass let out a chuckle, "I think we know who the dumb one is."

"Why don't you come with me to the hospital, see how Sara is? We can check on Gil too. Last, I heard from Warrick, was that Sara has been awake, but got really stressed and asked Gil to leave. I haven't really heard anymore since." Catherine asked, knowing Brass would feel better once he had seen her.

"Okay, just give me twenty minutes to sort some things out." Brass replied, hurrying down the corridor.

Sara awoke to a feeling of complete loneliness; opening her eyes, she cast them around her empty room. 'He's probably at his home with her.' She thought. 'No Sara you have got to stop thinking that. Just get yourself better then we can leave Vegas and him behind us.' The very thought brought fresh tears to her eyes.

As she reached for the tissues, she noticed an envelope propped up against a cuddly white fluffy bear, holding a big red heart.

Looking at the envelope, Sara recognized the scribbled writing on the front – it read.

Sara,

Please don't destroy this letter, there are some thing's I need to tell you, and this is might be my one and only chance.

Love,

Gil.

She reached for the envelope and tore it open.

Shaking slightly she unfolded the letter and took a deep breath as she began to read.

Sara,

I am so sorry about everything you have been through; I wish I could have saved you, protected you from everything that has happened. All I can do is hope is that I can be there for you, to help you through this.

I need you to know that everything Laura told you was a lie. Everything. She wanted to hurt you, destroy you, and I am just so relieved that she did not succeed in taking you from this world.

Please Sara, you have to believe me. Sofia means nothing to me, nothing. We're not dating, not expecting a baby and most definitely not in love with each other. Please, you have to believe me; I am begging you to believe me.

I am in love though; I am head over heels in love with you. Yes you, I love you.

I love you Sara Sidle.

You are so beautiful, I don't think I have ever told you that either. You are such an amazing person Sara, and I just hope and pray that you can get passed everything that has happened and try to again be that happy, beautiful, courageous woman I met ten years ago, whom I fell in love with the first time I saw you.

I can't believe I waited so long to tell you, when I saw you at the warehouse I thought I'd lost you and I can't lose you, I just can't. I can't even imagine my life without you.

I can understand if you don't want to see me again. The last thing I want is to cause you anymore pain and distress, God knows I have done enough of that the last few years, but I promise you I know what to do about this. I think I have always known. I have just been too scared to admit it. Now my biggest fear is that I might lose you forever, and that is something I am struggling to deal with.

I brought you the fluffy bear, I saw it in the hospital gift shop, and I thought you would like him. I named him Gil, I hope that was okay? That way if this does not work out the way I hope, part of me can always be with you.

He is also holding something special Sara; he is holding my heart for you. When you are ready to take it, it is yours; it has always been yours and will forever be yours. Call me and I'll be there in an instant and I'll take you in my arms and never ever let you go.

All his other words became blurry, she couldn't see through her tears. She had to see him. She needed to see him, now. Reaching out she picked up the bear, feeling the softness against her cheek. Clutching it so tightly in her arms like it was her only lifeline. "Oh Gil, why didn't you ever tell me? Why? Why did I make you leave? I need you here with me." The tears were falling again.

Reaching for another tissue, she noticed the cell phone that was lying next to where the bear was sitting. Urgently she began dialing his number, waiting as it began to ring. It was then that she realized she did not know what she was going to say, or if he would understand her, through her sobs.

On the third ring, it went to voice mail, disappointed she wouldn't be able to hear his voice she pressed the end button.

Upon his cell phone ringing, he jumped out of the seat and took the five short steps to her door. Peering through the glass, he saw her sitting there, tears falling down her face, clutching the bear tightly to her chest, in fear she would lose it forever.

As his hand reached for the handle of the door, she lifted her eyes, and once again their eyes were locked with each other's.

Entering her room and rushing to her bedside desperate to be near her, close enough to be able to hold her.

Cautiously he sat on the side of her bed, trying to get as close as possible, reaching out one of his hands to cup her face.

She could tell that he was shaking; the tears were streaming down his face as he tried to get his words out.

Reaching out her hands to touch his face, "I'm s... so…sorry." she cried, gazing into his eyes, while wiping his tears away.

Wiping away her tears, "Shh its okay now, I'm here, and I'm never leaving you. I love you. I just have to tell you, I love you so much." He couldn't believe how good it felt, that he had finally spoken those three words.

Looking down at Sara with such love in his eyes, "I love you too." Sara whispered, so quietly, he was afraid he was hearing things. "I love you, Gil."

Ever so delicately, Gil moved his hand from her face and brushed it through her hair, his hand settled on the back of her neck; then he slowly pulled her towards him.

He reached towards her and his mouth found hers. There lips crashing against each other's, desperate to touch, taste each other. All they could taste were each others tears.

As they pulled apart, he pulled her to his chest and rested his chin on her head. "You scared me so much; I just couldn't stand the thought of never seeing you again." pulling her even closer. "Whenever I am around you, I feel complete, whole; but when we were apart, I just felt so lost and empty."

He was still shaking slightly as he spoke; she had never felt so loved in her entire life. "Gil, I thought I lost you too. When she said...when she said she had killed you, my…my whole world collapsed around me. I... I"

"It's okay; we'll get through this together. I promise when this is all behind us, we can go away somewhere, anywhere. I don't care as long as I am with you."

All Sara could do was nod, "I'm so tired Gil, will you stay with me?"

"Always honey, always." Kissing her head, he stood; helping Sara to get more comfortable, then he lay down beside her and took her into his arms.

Lying there together felt so right, they could both feel it. "I feel so safe, laying here with you. " Sara sleepily admitted.

"I could lay here forever with you." Gil sleepily replied, pulling her closer, and planting another kiss in her hair.

Exhausted and emotionally drained, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

TBC

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